Age and hourly related changes of serum testosterone and spermiogram of prepubertal bulls fed two levels of nutrition

Serum testosterone concentrations and the spermiograms of prepuberal bulls fed two levels of protein diets were investigated at 7, 10, 14 and 18 months of age. Scrotal circumference, body condition score and total sperm counts of those animals on a high protein diet were significantly (P <0.05) higher than those on a low protein diet. However, sperm motility, total dead sperm and abnormal sperm did not differ between the treatment groups (P <0.05). One bull fed a high protein diet had significantly higher testosterone concentrations (basal and peak) than a bull fed low protein throughout the four sampling periods (P <0.05). Testosterone concentrations, scrotal circumference, volume of semen, sperm concentration and sperm output of bulls on low and high protein diets increased significantly with age (P <0.05). Peak testosterone concentrations ranged from 1.1. ng ml⁻¹ at 7 months to a maximum of 5.3 ng ml⁻¹ at 18 months. The 24 h secretory patterns of testosterone were episodic, pulsatile or temporal in nature. The peaks occurred mostly in the morning hours and ranged from one to five in number. Protein intake in prepubertal bulls could have significant influence on spermiogram and testosterone production.     

Oral Recombinant Feline Interferon-Omega as an alternative immune modulation therapy in FIV positive cats: Clinical and laboratory evaluation

Recombinant-Feline Interferon-Omega (rFeIFN-ω) is an immune-modulator licensed for use subcutaneously in Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) therapy. Despite oral protocols have been suggested, little is known about such use in FIV-infected cats. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical improvement, laboratory findings, concurrent viral excretion and acute phase proteins (APPs) in naturally FIV-infected cats under oral rFeIFN-ω therapy (0.1 MU/cat rFeIFN-ω PO, SID, 90 days). 11 FIV-positive cats were treated with oral rFeIFN-ω (PO Group). Results were compared to previous data from 7 FIV-positive cats treated with the subcutaneous licensed protocol (SC Group). Initial clinical scores were similar in both groups. Independently of the protocol, rFeIFN-ω induced a significant clinical improvement of treated cats. Concurrent viral excretion and APP’s variation were not significant in the PO Group. Oral rFeIFN-ω can be an effective alternative therapy for FIV-infected cats, being also an option for treatment follow-up in cats submitted to the licensed protocol.     

Long‐Term Effect of Deslorelin Implant on Ovarian Pre‐Antral Follicles and Uterine Histology in Female Rats

The objective of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of long‐term deslorelin implant administration on the ovarian and uterine structures of female rats. A total of 16 non‐pregnant female rats were randomly assigned to two groups, each consisting of eight animals. Animals in the implant group (DESL) received subcutaneously (s.c.) a single deslorelin implant (4.7 mg), an analogue of GnRH, while no treatment was applied to the control group (CON). A single adult male rat was introduced into the cages of both the DESL and CON females after 6 weeks of implant administration. After 1 year of implant administration, all animals were killed and follicular structures and volumes of ovaries and uterus were examined using stereological methods. Stereological observations showed that the mean ovarian total volume of the DESL group (0.28 ± 0.07 cm3) was lower than that of the CON group (1.55 ± 0.23 cm3) (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the total number of pre‐antral follicles in the ovaries of DESL (555.32 ± 151.47) females were significantly lower than the control group (1162.96 ± 189.19) (p < 0.001). In the DESL group, the mean volumes of epithelium, endometrium, myometrium and total volume of the uterus were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in the control groups. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the long‐term deslorelin implant (i) interferes with the normal cyclicity of female rats and (ii) affects the pre‐antral follicle population. Further studies will be required to determine the effects of long‐term deslorelin treatment on the pre‐antral follicle numbers and future fertility in other species.     

Lesions of the enteric nervous system and the possible role of mast cells in the pathogenic mechanisms of migration of schistosome eggs in the small intestine of cattle during Schistosoma bovis infection

The enteric nervous system in the small intestine of cattle during Schistosoma bovis infection was studied by histological stains and immunohistochemical methods. Lesions due to migration of schistosoma eggs were located mainly in the mucous and the submucous layer overlaying the submucous vascular arcades. Granulomas destroyed ganglia, neurons, nerves fibre strands and nerve fibres. Ganglia situated within or near granulomas were infiltrated by mast cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes, globule leukocytes, neutrophils and macrophages. Mast cells were in close contact with degenerating neuronal perikarya. Whereas vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity in the nerves and neurons in the ganglia within and around granulomas was increased, the neurofilament-like immunoreactivity was reduced. Compared to the myenteric and external submucous plexuses, the internal submucous and mucous plexuses were the most damaged. These changes imply reduced functional capacity in the nervous tissue which might cause reduced motility, malabsorption and partly account for the loss of body weight and condition and failure to thrive which occur in schistosomosis.Biotinylated affinity purified swine anti-rabbit and mouse anti-rabbit immunoglobulins reacted nonspecifically with a subset of mast cells. The reaction revealed many mast cells in early forming granulomas and around schistosome egg tracts and infiltration of mast cells into the ganglia of intestinal nerve plexuses. The observation shows a localized, Type I hypersensitivity reaction suggesting for the release of mast cell-derived chemical mediators in the intestinal reaction to trap or evict S. bovis eggs and to cause diarrhoea.     

Physical characteristics and chemical composition of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) eggs from wild and captive populations.

1. Eggs from wild and captive populations of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) were studied to determine their physical and chemical characteristics. 2. Significant differences were found among populations in almost all chemical parameters studied, whereas within physical parameters only shell weight (as a proportion of the entire egg) and density showed differences. 3. Eggs from wild populations had the highest protein and linolenic acid and the lowest total lipid contents, while cholesterol levels of these eggs and of those from the largest captive area were the lowest.     

Modelling the nitrogen-driven trade-off between nitrogen utilisation efficiency and water use efficiency of wheat in eastern Australia

The nitrogen-driven trade-off between nitrogen utilisation efficiency (yield per unit nitrogen uptake) and water use efficiency (yield per unit evapotranspiration) is widespread and results from well established, multiple effects of nitrogen availability on the water, carbon and nitrogen economy of crops. Here we used a crop model (APSIM) to simulate the yield, evapotranspiration, soil evaporation and nitrogen uptake of wheat, and analysed yield responses to water, nitrogen and climate using a framework analogous to the rate-duration model of determinate growth. The relationship between modelled grain yield (Y) and evapotranspiration (ET) was fitted to a linear-plateau function to derive three parameters: maximum yield (Y_max), the ET break-point when yield reaches its maximum (ET^#), and the rate of yield response in the linear phase (ΔY/ΔET). Against this framework, we tested the hypothesis that nitrogen deficit reduces maximum yield by reducing both the rate (ΔY/ΔET) and the range of yield response to evapotranspiration, i.e. ET^# − E_s, where E_s is modelled median soil evaporation.     

Colorimetric Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hibiscus</Emphasis> Beverages and their Potential Antioxidant Properties

In food industry, roselle beverages and their subproducts could be functional ingredients since they are an excellent source of bioactive compounds with improved performance due to their important anthocyanins content. The aim of this study was to analyze anthocyanin content and antioxidant properties of aqueous infusions elaborated with color contrasting Hibiscus materials and design a mathematical model in order to predict color-composition relationship. Color measurements of beverages from roselle (Negra, Sudan and Rosa) were made by transmission spectrophotometry, anthocyanins quantification was determined by HPLC, and antioxidant potential was evaluated by in vitro methods (ABTS and FRAP assays). Beverages prepared with particle size minor of 250 μm presented until 4- and 2- times more anthocyanins content and antioxidant capacity respectively, in comparison to beverages prepared with powders with particle size major of 750 μm. Positive correlations among pigments composition and color parameters were found (p?<?0.05), showing that anthocyanins content, antioxidant capacity, C*_ab and h_ab values increased in relation with the smallest particle size of flours. Also, mathematical models were stablished to predict anthocyanin content (r?≥?0.97) and antioxidant capacity (r?≥?0.89) from color data; we propose equations for quick estimation of the antioxidant capacity in the Hibiscus beverages with high anthocyanin content. The obtained models could be an important tool to be used in food industry for pigment characterization or functional compounds with potential health benefits.     

Effects of Soybean Fortification on Protein Quality of Tortilla-Based Diets Produced from Regular and Quality Protein Maize

The physiological development of laboratory rats fed with a typical indigenous tortilla diet was studied for two generations. The experiment compared casein control diet and five different types of diets: (1) a diet of tortillas obtained from fresh masa (FM); (2) regular tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour containing vitamins B₁, B₂, niacin, folic acid, and the microminerals iron and zinc (REDMF); (3) tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour fortified with 6% defatted soybean meal (FEDMF); (4) tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour (EQPM); and (5) and, tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour fortified with 3% defatted soybean meal (FEQPM). The growth of rats fed FEDMF and FEQPM diets was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both generations than their counterparts fed EQPM, REDMF, or FM diet. Animals fed quality protein maize (QPM) tortilla had the highest protein digestibility, but the FEQPM and FEDMF diets had the highest biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU), and protein-digestibility-corrected EAA scores (PDCEAAS). The difference among treatments was more evident in the second-generation rats. The pregnancy rate, number of newborns/litter, litter weight, and newborn survival rate was also higher for rats fed FEDMF, EQPM, and FEQPM diets than their counterparts fed REDMF and FM.